By Joseph A. Curtatone

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

A monthly look at ways to get involved with your city: Don’t just live in Somerville, be Somerville!

Short-term Rentals Community Discussion #2 RESCHEDULED for July 19
With the growing popularity of home-sharing and short-term rentals, the City is revisiting its policies and regulations. Join us for a community meeting where City staff will review current short-term rental regulations and lead a discussion about future regulation options. The first meeting was held on June 14, and a second was planned for June 21, however that meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday, July 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Argenizano School Cafeteria, 290 Washington St.

SHS Parking Changes Community Meeting #2, June 20 
With construction on the new Somerville High School underway and set to ramp up in the summer months, gradual changes to parking options on the Central Hill Campus and the surrounding public streets have begun. Join us for the second in a series of public quarterly meetings where updates about parking changes, new data collection, and strategies for impact mitigation will be discussed. For more information, and to provide feedback via an online form, visit www.somervillema.gov/shsparking.
When/where: Wednesday, June 20, at 6 p.m. in the Somerville Public Library Auditorium, 79 Highland Ave.

Community Preservation Act FY19 Application Workshop, June 21 
Come learn about the Fiscal Year 2019 CPA application process for historic resources and open space/recreational land. For more information, visit www.somervillema.gov/cpa.
When/where: Thursday, June 21, at 6 p.m. in the Somerville Public Library Conference Room, 79 Highland Ave.

Green Line Extension Bridge Closure Drop-in Q&A, June 23 
On Saturday, June 23, City and GLX project staff will be set up at a table in Ball Square to provide information and answer any questions regarding the proposed bridge closures associated with the Green Line Extension project. Based on current proposals by MassDOT, the MBTA, and GLX Constructors, the Broadway Bridge in Ball Square would be the first of seven planned bridge closures, and would close to all traffic for one year beginning in fall 2018. More information is available at www.somervillema.gov/glx, or www.greenlinextension.org.
When/where: Saturday, June 23, from 9 to 11 a.m., on the sidewalk in front of Blue Cloud Gallery and True Grounds, 713 Broadway.

BOA Public Hearing on City Budget, June 26
The Board of Aldermen’s Committee on Finance will hold a public hearing for input on the City’s proposed Fiscal year 2019 budget. For more information on the proposed budget, visit www.somervillema.gov/fy19budget.

When/where: Tuesday, June 26, at 6 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 93 Highland Ave.

City Alerts

Get important City notifications for snow emergencies, construction, detours, and other public safety matters delivered to your phone (voice and text) and/or your email. Sign up for alerts at www.somervillema.gov/alerts. 

City Newsletter 

For weekly updates on city cultural and civic events, City services, job openings, and more, sign up for the City e-newsletter at www.somervillema.gov/newsletter.

City Calendar

Look up city events and meetings (as well as agendas and minutes) 24/7 on the City calendar at www.somervillema.gov.